Ryan gave Chen Chuan a searching look. In inviting Chen Chuan to meet here today, his purpose was, in truth, to test and assess him before formally putting forward certain proposals.
The thoughts and mindset of many martial artists differed from those of ordinary people, even when they behaved like everyone else. For casual interactions, that hardly mattered; but if one hoped to achieve a specific aim, the only way to deal with them effectively was to grasp their underlying logic, their general tastes, and their inclinations.
Ryan had reviewed Chen Chuan's dossiers, but those were merely records on paper. The true reality required direct observation.
Whom or what a person chose to meet often provided a direct window into their inner nature. Yet Ryan had not expected Chen Chuan to propose speaking with an entity from the other side.
To be frank, safety considerations dictated that he refuse the request. It was not as if no one had ever asked out of curiosity before, but without exception, the outcomes had all been grim.
Martial artists were an even clearer case—none had ever made such a request. It was not that they lacked curiosity, but that they knew full well how intensely contaminating such entities were. Even an exchange of words carried the distinct risk of leaving insidious taints behind. They universally avoided them like the plague, so who would actively seek them out?
As for the upper echelons of the Federation, certain factions among them did maintain communication with specific entities from the other side, and the necessary intelligence had been acquired long ago. There was naturally no need to make a special effort to speak with an entity whose disposition remained unclear.
Ryan smiled and said, "Of course that can be arranged. But before we proceed, I must remind you, Mr. Chen, that Blockade Hall maintains rigorous rules and assessment protocols. If any hazardous overflow occurs, decisive measures will be taken without hesitation. I hope you can understand."
Chen Chuan grasped his meaning: if he suffered contamination, Blockade Hall would not show him any special courtesy simply because he was a guest. He would have to bear that risk alone.
He replied, "Mr. Craverdy, since I have come to Blockade Hall, I will abide by all of its rules."
At those words, Ryan looked at him, then turned and gave instructions to a doll. She stepped out, and after a moment, a faint glimmer flashed across Ryan's eyes. He smiled. "Mr. Chen, a few safety preparations are needed before the meeting, which may take a short while. Why don't we tour a few other areas in the meantime?"
Chen Chuan said, "Certainly."
"Then after you."
Ryan led him through the long Roamer Promenade, continuing their tour through the exhibition halls toward the rear. Over an hour later, the two arrived at Insight Hall, situated in the central section.
This was the facility designated for communicating with certain captive subjects. The doll briefed Chen Chuan on the relevant precautions, then stepped back to one side.
Ryan did not accompany him this time, retreating instead behind a protective barrier at the rear. He kept his distance, knowing it was impossible to predict what complications might arise.
If a martial artist of formidable combat prowess belonging to the Secret Palace were compromised, the ensuing fallout would be catastrophic. Blockade Hall was secure enough that one did not need to fear catastrophic destruction, but should a real crisis occur, Ryan could drop down to the lower level immediately and evacuate via the purification corridor there, leaving the rest to the security forces on site.
Chen Chuan walked forward alone. Beneath his feet lay black marble that mirrored his silhouette; surrounding him were walls of crystal. The security personnel flanking the room had withdrawn well beforehand, leaving the sprawling hall of several thousand square meters completely empty except for him.
Ahead stood an upright stone slab. Suspended from its center was an ornate receiver, its grip of interwoven gilt and silver radiating an elegant, delicate sheen.
He noticed that this communication station differed from the other areas: it used virtually no biological materials at all, relying entirely on mechanical and metallic components. This was presumably to eliminate potential avenues of contamination.
Stepping up to the stone slab, he lifted the receiver. An isolation filter mesh swung into view ahead, behind which sat an acoustic horn.
At that moment, he felt a faint sensation of something squirming inside, accompanied by rustling noises—a presence disturbing enough to cause profound revulsion in an ordinary person.
Chen Chuan disregarded it entirely and asked point-blank, "What is it that you want?"
He expressed this through both mental intent and spoken language, confident that the other side would comprehend.
The rustling sounds paused for an instant. Then a pulse of psychic force established a connection with his mind, accompanied by a flood of information transmitted back through the mental exchange.
The data was violently chaotic, completely indecipherable as to what it was actually trying to convey.
Just then, wisps of dark smoke rose from Chen Chuan's body.
His Grand Radiant Light Forms had engaged of their own accord, purging the contamination that accompanied the psychic stream.
Truth be told, having dealt with entities from the other side multiple times, he did not find this contamination especially intense. He did not even need to invoke his second self; relying purely on his own esoteric art was enough to shut out the taint.
This was likely not because the entity itself was weak, but because Blockade Hall's grand rituals had stripped down its capacity for contamination layer by layer.
Fortunately, this did not disrupt the transmission of thoughts and data. Though he could not decode it for now, he knew that martial artists who had undergone mutation seemed capable of hearing and understanding what was broadcast from the other side. That suggested deciphering such messages might require the aid of an external visage.
He could attempt an analysis once he returned.
He listened patiently for a good while. The other side persisted for a time, but seemingly realizing that he showed no unusual reaction and bore no trace of contamination, it ceased sending any further information.
He tried asking two more questions, but the other side offered no response whatsoever, apparently refusing to communicate any longer. Seeing this, he set the receiver down with a touch of regret.
Checking his watch, he felt as though he had stood there for only a brief moment, yet roughly thirty minutes had already slipped by.
He turned and walked back toward the exit. As he passed out of the access zone, a beam of light shone down from above—the facility's biological scanning equipment running an inspection on him.
Mental contamination was notoriously difficult to guard against; ordinary fighters often remained completely unaware when infected, but Blockade Hall's biological apparatus could root it out.
The scanning equipment detected nothing abnormal about Chen Chuan. Every reading confirmed he was entirely sound, and Blockade Hall's active conscious entity raised no alert either.
Ryan emerged from the isolation enclosure at that moment. Watching Chen Chuan walk out completely unscathed, his face showed a mixture of wariness and astonishment. He asked, "Mr. Chen, were you able to learn what you wished to know?"
Chen Chuan answered candidly, "That entity is quite weakened. It did not seem particularly inclined to answer my questions."
Ryan was silent for a moment before asking, "Does Mr. Chen need to speak with any other creatures—or rather, any other individuals?"
Chen Chuan said, "No need. Let us leave it at that."
Hearing this, Ryan smiled. "Then please allow me to show you the remaining areas, Mr. Chen."
Over the time that followed, he guided Chen Chuan through all the sections they had not yet covered, concluding with an invitation to join him for dinner.
Blockade Hall was immense, its internal functions clearly demarcated.
Chen Chuan now noticed that the entire layout seemed modeled after the internal anatomy of a living creature, with different viscera and organs representing different zones.
The Roamer Promenade naturally corresponded to the esophagus, while Insight Hall, which they had just visited, sat in the throat and lungs.
The banquet hall they were heading to now lay in the stomach region, matching its function precisely.
One odd detail was that he had seen nowhere capable of representing the head; the entrance vestibule with only a single sculpture was clearly insufficient for such a role. Had that area been concealed?
Even so, he had to admit that the esoteric rituals here were vast and intricate, showing a masterful grasp of how to harness forces from every quarter. Based on his observations, he suspected that gathering these formidable creatures and entities from the other side in one place was precisely what generated such potent containment, because the struggles of each captive exerted counterpressure against the others.
Consequently, no matter how powerful a single individual might be, escaping by one's own strength was out of the question. Every struggle meant fighting against everything else imprisoned here, and how could anyone prevail against that?
This was an unmistakable execution of the philosophy Ryan had outlined earlier: using the simplest methods and lowest costs to accomplish the greatest tasks.
Once they reached the banquet hall, exquisite dishes were brought out course by course, while an ensemble to one side played gentle, soothing melodies.
Even though Chen Chuan knew little of Federation music, he could appreciate its high artistic caliber; listening to it offered a genuinely immersive, enjoyable experience.
The spread was rich and varied, consisting almost entirely of produce derived from creatures of the Confluence. Carefully prepared and seasoned, it lacked nothing in either nutritional value or flavor.
Toward the end of the meal, two attendants slowly wheeled a cart forward and placed two delicate porcelain bowls before them.
The bowls contained a thick mushroom soup with a soft sheen over its surface, sprinkled with finely chopped herbs. The broth appeared smooth and silky, with rolling mushroom pieces dimly visible beneath.
Ryan said with a smile, "Mr. Chen, please have a taste. This is a specialty of our Weiya Continent: velvet snow mushroom."
Chen Chuan had indeed heard of velvet snow mushrooms. Their annual yield was extremely limited, and only a select few ever had the chance to sample them. Simply taking in the aroma made the mutated tissues within his body stir. For food to still hold an attraction for someone of his current tier was ample proof of its immense nutritional value.
He lifted his spoon, ladled up a portion, and took a sip. A silky warmth slid into his stomach and radiated through his entire body. Nodding in approval, he continued to savor it unhurriedly.
When the meal drew to a close and the tableware was cleared away, Ryan looked at him and asked, "Was Mr. Chen satisfied with today's dining?"
Chen Chuan said, "It was excellent. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Craverdy."
Ryan smiled and said, "There is no need for thanks. Those of ability rightfully deserve to enjoy such things. That is the rule of the world. And I do not mean mere theory, but the rules—the rules of nature, the rules by which the world operates. I believe you understand that, Mr. Chen."
Chapter 1117